Columnar air moving devices, systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Air moving device includes a housing, an impeller in the housing for generating a downward air flow, and vanes in the housing in close proximity to and a selected distance below the impeller to straighten the air flow. The device produces an air flow that substantially remains in a column over a substantial distance. The method includes producing an air flow that substantially remains in a column over a substantial distance and directing the air flow from the ceiling towards the floor to provide temperature destratification of the air in an enclosed space. The method also includes directing warm air from the ceiling to the floor and storing heat in the floor, apparatus on the floor and ground under the floor. The stored heat is released when the ceiling is cooler than the floor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation from U.S. application Ser. No.11/027,039 filed Dec. 30, 2004, incorporated in its entirety byreference herein, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) toU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/553,720 filed Mar. 15, 2004,which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heating, ventilating and airconditioning air spaces, and more particularly to systems, devices andmethods for moving air in a columnar pattern with minimal lateraldispersion that are particularly suitable for penetrating air spaces andair temperature de-stratification.

2. Description of the Related Art

The rise of warmer air and the sinking of colder air creates significantvariation in air temperatures between the ceiling and floor of buildingswith conventional heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.Such air temperature stratification is particularly problematic in largespaces with high ceilings such as warehouses, gymnasiums, offices,auditoriums, hangers, commercial buildings, and even residences withcathedral ceilings, and can significantly decrease heating and airconditioning costs. Further, both low and high ceiling rooms can havestagnant or dead air. For standard ceiling heights with duct outlets inthe ceiling there is a sharp rise in ceiling temperatures when the heatcomes on.

One proposed solution to air temperature stratification is a ceilingfan. Ceiling fans are relatively large rotary fans, with a plurality ofblades, mounted near the ceiling. The blades of a ceiling fan have aflat or airfoil shape. The blades have a lift component that pushes airupwards or downwards, depending on the direction of rotation, and a dragcomponent that pushes the air tangentially. The drag component causestangential or centrifugal flow so that the air being pushed diverges orspreads out. Conventional ceiling fans are generally ineffective as anair de-stratification device in relatively high ceiling rooms becausethe air pushed by conventional ceiling fans is not maintained in acolumnar pattern from the ceiling to the floor, and often disperses ordiffuses well above the floor.

Another proposed solution to air temperature stratification is a fanconnected to a vertical tube that extends substantially from the ceilingto the floor. The fan may be mounted near the ceiling, near the floor orin between. This type of device may push cooler air up from the floor tothe ceiling or warmer air down from the ceiling to the floor. Suchdevices, when located away from the walls in an open space in abuilding, interfere with floorspace use and are not aestheticallypleasing. When confined to locations only along the walls of an openspace, such devices may not effectively circulate air near the center ofthe open space. Examples of fans connected to vertical tubes aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,342 to Hughes, and U.S. Pat. No.3,973,479 to Whiteley.

A device that provides a column of air that has little or no diffusionfrom the ceiling the floor, without a vertical tube, can effectivelyprovide air de-stratification. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,473,000 and 4,662,912 toPerkins disclose a device having a housing, with a rotating impellerhaving blades in the top of the housing and a plurality of interspersedsmall and large, vertically extending, radial stationary vanes spacedbelow the impeller in the housing. The device disclosed by Perkins isintended to direct the air in a more clearly defined pattern and reducedispersion. Perkins, however, does not disclose the importance of aspecific, relatively small gap between the impeller blades and thestationary vanes, and the device illustrated creates a vortex andturbulence due to a large gap and centrifugal air flow bouncing off theinner walls of the housing between the blades and vanes. Perkins alsodiscloses a tapering vane section. The tapering vane section increasesvelocity of the exiting air stream.

A device with a rotary fan that minimizes the rotary component of theair flow while maximizing the axial air flow quantity and velocity canprovide a column of air that flows from a high ceiling to a floor in acolumnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion that does not require aphysical transporting tube. Such a device should reduce the energy lossby minimizing the rotary component of the air flow, and thereforeminimizes turbulence. Such a device should minimize back pressure, sincea pressure drop at the outlet of the device will cause expansion,velocity loss and lateral dispersion. The device should have minimumnoise and low electric power requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An air moving device which has a housing with an air inlet and an airoutlet spaced from the inlet. A rotary impeller with a plurality ofblades is mounted in the housing at the air inlet end and produces airflow with an axial component and a rotary component. A plurality ofspaced, longitudinally extending, radial air guide vanes in the housingdownstream of the impeller are in close proximity to the impeller bladesto minimize the rotary component and change the air flow to a laminarand axial flow in the housing that exits the outlet end in a columnarpattern with minimal lateral dispersion. A method of moving air includesproducing an air flow through a housing, and directing the air flowthrough the housing in a laminar and axial flow and exits an outlet soas to produce a columnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion. Themethod also includes directing warm air from near the ceiling toward thefloor, allowing the heat from the warm air to be stored in the floor,articles on the floor and the earth under the floor. The method includesdirecting air in a generally horizontal direction to allow penetrationof an air space in a container, trailer truck or a room to promoteflushing of that air space and circulation thereof. The device andmethod are particularly suitable for high efficiency, low power usage,air temperature de-stratification, and to improve air quality andcirculation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Details of this invention are described in connection with theaccompanying drawings that bear similar reference numerals in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an air moving device embodyingfeatures of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device 5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, with straightupstream portions of the vanes.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 showing angulardirection of the device.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial exploded view of the hangar attachment ofthe device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a room with the device of FIG. 1 showing anair flow pattern with dashed lines and arrows.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, partially cut away, showing the deviceof FIG. 1 modified for attachment to a light can.

FIG. 11A is a sectional view taken along line 11A-11A of FIG. 11.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 with an intakegrill.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 of the deviceof FIG. 1 with a misting nozzle.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 in combinationwith a tube and second air moving device.

FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective view, partially cut away, showing thedevice of FIG. 1 mounted in a drop ceiling.

FIG. 15A is a top perspective view of FIG. 15.

FIG. 15B is a top perspective view of the fastening member shown in FIG.15A

FIG. 15C is a sectional view taken along FIG. 15C-15C of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 15D is a sectional view along line 15D-15D of FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view, partially cut away, showing the deviceof FIG. 1 modified for attachment to a light socket and having a lightbulb at the lower end.

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of an open sided tent with an air movingdevice in the top.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a shipping container with an air movingdevice at one lower end.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 9, there is shown an air moving device 12having an elongated outer housing 13, an electric rotary fan 14 in thehousing for producing air flow in the housing and a plurality oflongitudinally extending, outer radial vanes 15 and an inner housing hub16 opposite the vanes in the housing downstream of the fan for directingair flow in the housing.

The housing 13 has a circular cross section, and an open first end 17and an open second end 18 spaced from the first end 17. In theillustrated embodiment, a detachable, axially outwardly convex cowling19 forms the first end 17 and provides an air inlet 21 with a diameterslightly smaller than the outer diameter of the cowling 19.

The housing 13 has a first section 25 extending from the cowling 19 toan interior shelf 26. A generally C shaped hanger 23 mounts at oppositeends 24 to opposite sides of the housing 13 at the upper end of thefirst section 25, for mounting the air moving device 12 to a support.The first section 25, when viewed from the side, has a curved, slightlyradially outwardly convex shape that conforms to the curvature of thecowling 19. The shelf 26 extends radially inwardly to join with theupstream end of a second section 27. The second section 27 tapersinwardly and extends axially from the shelf 26 to the second end 18along a smooth curve that goes from radially outwardly convex near theshelf 26 to radially outwardly concave near the second end 18. Thesecond end 18 forms an air outlet 28 that has a smaller diameter thanthe air inlet 21. A plurality of circumferentially spaced external fins29 extend from the shelf 26 to the second section 27 to provide theappearance of a smooth curve from the air inlet 21 to the air outlet 28when the housing 13 is viewed from the side.

The fan 14 includes an impeller 31 having a cylindrical, inner impellerhub 32, with an electric motor 34 therein, and a plurality of rigidlymounted, circumferentially spaced blades 33 extending radially from theimpeller hub 32. In the illustrated embodiment the impeller 31 has threeequally spaced blades 33 and rotates about an axis in acounter-clockwise direction when viewed from above. Each blade 33, inside view, extends from an upstream edge 35, downwardly and leftwardlyto a downstream edge 36 with each blade 33 being slightly concave, in anairfoil or wing shape, downwardly to propel air rightwardly as shown bythe arrow. Each blade 33 then inclines at a selected angle to the axisof rotation of the impeller. Each blade 33 shown extends axially andradially toward the outlet or second end 18 to direct air axially with arotary component. If the motor 34 runs in the opposite direction, theincline of the blades 33 would be reversed. The fan 14 includes astationary cylindrical mounting ring 38 that extends around the blades33, with the impeller hub 32 being rotably mounted relative to themounting ring 38. The mounting ring 38 has spaced, protruding upstreamand downstream rims 40 and 41. The fan 14 mounts in the housing 13between the cowling 19 and the shelf 26.

Each of the vanes 15 is identical and includes upstream portion 43 and adownstream portion 44. The upstream portion 43 is carried in a stator46. The stator 46 has a cylindrical stator hub 47 with a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of the impeller hub 32.

The upstream portions 43 of the vanes 15 are mounted in acircumferentially spaced arrangement around the stator hub 47, andextend longitudinally along and radially from the stator hub 47. Eachupstream portion 43 has an upstream end 48 and a downstream end 49. Asupport body 50 includes a cylindrical stator ring 52 that extendsaround the upstream portions 43 and connects to the outer ends of theupstream portions 43 of the vanes 15 near the upstream ends 48. Thesupport body 50 also includes a protruding stator rim 53 that issubstantially planar with the upstream ends 48 of the upstream portions43 of the vanes 15, and that connects to the stator ring 52 and extendsradially outwardly therefrom.

The housing 13 has, an inner surface and the inner housing hub 16 has anouter surface concentric with a spaced from the housing inner surface todefine an air flow passage through the housing. The inner housing hub 16includes the fan hub 32, stator hub portion 47 and downstream hubportion 57, each having an outer surface and arranged end to end alongthe center of the housing and opposite and spaced from the housing innersurface to define the air flow passage. In particular, these outersurfaces shown are cylindrical and substantially the same diameter for asubstantial portion of the passage and as the housing 13 converges thedownstream hub portion 57 converges to generally follow the curvature ofthe inside surface of the housing.

The stator 46 nests in and is separable from the housing 13 with thestator rim 53 between the shelf 26 of the housing 13 and the downstreamrim 41 of the mounting ring 38 of the fan 14, and with a gap 55 having aselected size between the downstream edge 36 of the blades 33 of theimpeller 31 and the upstream ends 49 of the upstream portions 43 of thevanes 15. If the gap 55 is too large, turbulence will be generated inthe air flow between the impeller 31 and the vanes 15, reducing thevelocity of the air flow. If the gap 55 is too small, fluid shear stresswill generate noise. The size of the gap 55 is generally selected as nogreater than a maximum selected dimension to avoid turbulence and noless than a selected minimum dimension to avoid noise, and moreparticularly selected as small as possible without generating noise.

The selected size of the gap 55 is generally proportional to thediameter of the impeller 31 and may further be affected by the speed ofthe impeller 31. The following are examples: For an impeller 31 with adiameter of 6.00″, at 1800 rpm, the maximum size of the gap 55 should be1.25″ and the minimum gap should be 0.2″. For an impeller 31 with adiameter of 8.5″, at 1400 rpm, the maximum size of the gap 55 should be1.25″, and the minimum gap should be 0.2″ but could be 0.020 for lowerrpm's as the size of the gap is rpm dependent. Generally, the maximumsize of the gap 55 should be less than one half the diameter of theimpeller 31.

In the illustrated embodiment, eight equally spaced upstream portions 43of the vanes 15 are provided, and when viewed from the side, theupstream portions 43 of the vanes 15 extend straight upwardly from thedownstream ends 49 and then curve leftwardly near the upstream ends 48.The upstream portion 43 of each curved vane portion is inclined at anangle opposite the incline of the blade 33 that extends axially andradially inward toward the outlet or second end 28 to assist inconverting the rotary component of the air flow into laminar and axialflow in the housing.

Straight upstream portions 43A of the vanes 15 may also be used, asshown in FIG. 7, and other numbers of vanes 15 may be used. Further, ifthe motor 34 runs in the opposite direction, the incline of thecurvature near the upstream ends 48 would be reversed.

The downstream portions 44 of the vanes 15 attach at an inner end to adownstream inner housing hub portion 57, are circumferentially spacedand extend radially outwardly from the housing hub portion 57 to thehousing 13. The housing hub portion 57 and the downstream portions 44 ofthe vanes 15 extend axially from the stator 46 to or near the air outlet28. The housing hub portion 57 has a circular cross section, has adiameter substantially equal to the diameter of the stator housing hubportion 47 at the upstream end adjacent to the stator housing hubportion 47, and tapers downstream to a point 58 near the air outlet 28.

This hub portion may be characterized as torpedo shaped. In theillustrated embodiment there are four downstream portions 44 of thevanes 15 circumferentially spaced at 90 degrees, with each downstreamportion 44 being aligned with an upstream portion 43 of a vane 15. Othernumbers of downstream portions 44 of the vanes 15 can be used.

The number of the blades 33 may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. The number ofthe vanes 15 may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. The number of vanes 15 shouldbe different from the number of blades 33. If the number of vanes 15 andblades 33 are the same, added noise is generated due to harmonics.

The air moving device 12 discharges air at a high velocity in agenerally axial flow having a columnar pattern with minimal lateraldispersion after exiting the air outlet 28. The cowling 19 extends alonga curve toward the inside to reduce turbulence and noise for air flowentering the air inlet 21. The impeller hub 32, the stator hub 47 andthe housing hub 57 form the inner housing hub 16. The taper of thehousing hub 57 generally follows the taper of the housing 13 So that thecross sectional area for air flow decreases about 10% to 35% through theair moving device 12 to avoid back pressure and at the same timeincrease air flow velocity. In the embodiment shown the air flowdecreases about 22%.

The vanes 15 convert the rotary component of the air flow from theimpeller 31 into laminar and axial air flow in the housing. The leftwardcurve of the upstream ends 48 of the upstream portions 43 of the vanes15, in the illustrated embodiment, reduces the energy loss in theconversion of the rotary component of the air flow from the impeller 31into laminar and axial air flow in the housing. The small gap 55 betweenthe impeller 31 and vanes 15 prevents the generation of turbulence inthe air flow in the gap 55. The taper of the housing 13 in combinationwith the taper of the housing hub 57 to the point 58 allows the air flowto exit the air outlet 28 in a continuous, uninterrupted columnarpattern with minimal dispersion, with no center hole or gap at a linearspeed greater than would be imparted by a fan alone. The inside surfaceof the housing 13 is a substantially smooth uninterrupted surface tominimize turbulence and energy loss.

The hanger 23 is mounted to rotate and lock relative to the housing 13,so that when the hanger 23 is attached to an overhead support such asceiling, the air flow from the air moving device 12 may be directedvertically or aimed at any selected angle from the vertical as shown inFIG. 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the first section 25 of the housing13 includes mounting tabs 91 on opposite sides on the upper edge of thefirst section 25. Each mounting tab 91 includes a round, outwardlydirected mounting face 92, and a housing aperture 93 that extendsinwardly through the center of the mounting tab 91. A pair of outwardlyprojecting housing ridges 94 extend radially on the mounting face 92 onopposite sides of the housing aperture 93.

Each end 24 of the hanger 23 has a round, inwardly facing hanger endface 96, similar in size to the mounting face 92 on the housing 13. Ahanger end aperture 97 extends through the center of the hanger end face96. A plurality of spaced, radially extending grooves 98, sized toreceive the housing ridges 94, are provided on each hanger end face 96.Bolt 100 extends through the hanger end aperture 97 and threads into aninternally threaded cylindrical insert 101, rigidly affixed in housingaperture 93. The angle of the housing 13 is chosen by selecting a pairof opposed grooves 97 on each hanger end 24 to receive the housingridges 94. The pivotal arrangement enables the housing to move to aselected angle and is lockable at the selected angle to direct air flowat the selected angle.

FIG. 10 shows an air moving device 12 mounted to the 13 ceiling 62 of aroom 63 shown as being closed sided with opposed side walls. Warm airnear the ceiling 62 is pulled into the air moving device 12. The warmair exits the air moving device 12 in a column 64 that extends to thefloor 65. When the column 64 reaches the floor 65, the warm air from theceiling pushes the colder air at the floor 65 outward towards theopposed side walls 66 and upward towards the ceiling 62. When the column64 reaches the floor 65, the warm air from the ceiling will alsotransfer heat into the floor 65, so that heat is stored in the floor 65.The stored heat is released when the ceiling is cooler than the floor.The heat may also be stored in articles on the floor and earth under thefloor. The air moving device 12 destratifies the air in a room 63without requiring the imperforate physical tube of many prior knowndevices. The air moving device 12 destratifies the air in a room 63 withthe warmer air from the ceiling 62 minimally dispersing before reachingthe floor 65, unlike many other prior known devices. The air movingdevice 12 will also remove dead air anywhere in the room. It isunderstood that the air moving device 12 may also be mountedhorizontally in a container, trailer truck or room as is describehereafter.

Referring to FIG. 11, an air moving device 12 is fitted with an inletgrill 68 and an electric connector 69 for attachment to a light can 70with a light bulb socket 71 at the upper end. The inlet grill 68includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced grill fins 72 thatattach to the first end 17 of the housing 13. The grill fins 72 areseparated by air intake slots 73, and extend axially outwardly from thefirst end 17 and curve radially inwardly and are integral with a flatcircular mounting plate 74 that is substantially parallel with the firstend 17. The electrical connector 69 has a tube 76 that is integral atone end with the center of the mounting plate 74 and extends axiallytherefrom, and a light bulb type, right hand thread externally threadedmale end 77 attached to the other end of the shaft 78. Grill 68, plate74 and tube 76 are shown as made of a one piece construction. Plate 74has holes that received screws 83 or like fasteners to fasten plate 74to ceiling 62.

The shaft 78 telescopes in the tube 76. The tube 76 has a pair ofopposed keyways 76A that receive keys 78A on the shaft 78 which allowaxial sliding movement of the shaft 78 in the tube 76. A compressionspring 75 fits in the tube and bears against the bottom of shaft 78 andtop of plate 74. Preferably the shaft 78 has a selected length relativeto the length of the can 70 such that when the air moving device 12 ismounted in a can 70 in a ceiling 62, the threaded male end 77 engagesthe socket 71 before the mounting plate 74 contacts the ceiling 62 andwhen the threaded male end 77 is screwed into the socket 71, themounting plate 74 bears against the ceiling 62. The spring 75 iscompressed between plate 74 and shaft 78. Screws 83 fasten the plate tothe ceiling 62. Since the light can 70 may be open to air above theceiling 62, the mounting plate 74 is preferably sized to cover the openlower end of the can 70, so that only air from below the ceiling 62 isdrawn into the air moving device 12. The air moving device 12 fittedwith the inlet grill 68 and the electrical connector 69 can also be usedwith a ceiling light socket.

The air moving device 12 may include an intake grill 79 for preventingobjects from entering the impeller 31, as shown in FIG. 12. The intakegrill 79 shown has a substantially hemispherical shape, and includes aplurality of circumferentially spaced grill fins 80 separated by intakeslots 81. The grill fins 80 extend axially outwardly and curve radiallyinwardly from the first end 17 of the housing 13 to a central point 82spaced from the first end 17. Other shapes of intake grills are suitablefor the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows an air moving device 12 with a misting nozzle 84. Thenozzle 84 extends through the point 58 of the housing hub 57 to spraywater into the column of air exiting the air outlet 28 to cool the airthrough evaporation. The media exiting the nozzle 84 and being suppliedthrough tube 85 can have other purposes such as a disinfectant or afragrance or a blocking agent for distinctive needs. The nozzle 84connects to a water line 85, in the housing hub 59 that connects to awater source (not shown).

FIG. 14 shows an air moving system 86 for use in buildings with veryhigh ceilings, including an air moving device 12, an upwardly extending,tube 87 (shown cut away) connected at a lower end to the air inlet 21 ofthe air moving device 12, and a truncated upper air moving device 88having an air outlet 89 connected to the upper end of the tube 87. Thehousing of device 88 is called truncated because it may be shortened orcut off below the fins 29. A conventional air moving device 12 may beused for device 88. The tube 87 may be flexible and is preferably fireresistant. The air moving system 86 is mounted to a ceiling or likesupport with the air outlet 28 of the air moving device 12 spaced abovethe floor, preferably about 10 to 50 feet. The tube may be for examplefrom 30 to 100 feet long.

The upper air moving device 88 at the top of the system 86 has a higherair moving flow capacity than the air moving device 12 at the bottom ofthe cascading system 86. By way of example, and not as a limitation, theupper air moving device 88 may have a capacity of 800 cfm and the airmoving device 12 may have a capacity of 550 cfm.

FIGS. 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 16 show the air moving device 12mounted in an opening 103 in a ceiling 104. A generally cylindrical can105 mounts on and extends above the ceiling 104, and has an open canbottom 106, and a closed can top 107. The can top 107 includes asemi-circular, downward opening, circumferentially extending channel108. A semi-circular fin 111 extends radially across the channel 108 toprevent swirling of the air before entering the air inlet 21. Additionalfins may be used. A grill and support assembly 125 mounts to the ceilingand extends and connects to the exterior of the housing of device 12. Agrill including spaced openings 110 between fins 109 to allow air toflow up from the room along the housing and past the cowling 19 into theinlet 21. The grill and support assembly 125 includes an outer ring 120fastened to the underside of the ceiling including the convexly curvedgrill fins 109 with air openings 110 between connected outer ring 120and an inner ring 121. Ring 121 has a spherical concave inner bearingsurface 122.

A ring 123 has a spherical convexly curved exterior bearing surface 124is mounted on and affixed to the housing with bearing surfaces 122 and124 mating in a frictional fit to support the housing to be at avertical position or tilted at an angle to the vertical axis and be heldby friction at the vertical axis or a selected angle relative to thevertical axis to direct air flow as required.

The can 105 has an outwardly extending bottom flange 140 that fitsagainst the underside of the ceiling 104. The can 105 preferably hasfour circumferentially spaced bottom openings 141 at 90 degree intervalsthat are rectangular in shape and extend up the can wall a shortdistance from the bottom flange 140. A clamping member 142 preferablymade as a molded plastic body has a main body portion 143 above theceiling 104 outside the can wall and an end flange portion 144 that fitsinside the can opening 142. The main body portion 143 has a U-shapedouter wall portion 145 and an inner hub portion 146 having an aperture147. The clamping member 142 inserts into the opening 141 via the openend of the can. A bolt fastener 151 extends through a hole in theflange, through a hole in the ceiling and threads into the aperture 147in the main body portion to clamp the can 105 to the ceiling 104.

As shown in FIG. 15D the grill and support assembly 125 is mounted tothe ceiling 104 and can 105 by a bolt fastener 149 extending through anaperture in ring 120, through the ceiling 104 and into a nut 150 inflange 140 in the can. Preferably there are four bolt fasteners 149 at90 degree intervals midway between fasteners 151 above described. Theceiling 104 typically would be a plasterboard ceiling in which asuitable hole is cut. A variation of FIG. 15 would be to extend or formthe peripheral of outer ring 120 into a flat panel having a dimension of2 ft. by 2 ft. that would fit in and be held by a grid that holds aconventional ceiling panel.

Referring to FIG. 17, an air moving device is fitted with an inlet grill113, a light bulb style threaded male end 114 for threading into a lightbulb socket, and a light bulb socket 115. The inlet grill 113 includes aplurality of circumferentially spaced grill fins 116 that attach to thefirst end of the housing 13. The grill fins 116 are separated by airintake slots 117, and extend axially outwardly from the first end 17 andcurve radially inwardly to a flat circular mounting plate 118 that issubstantially parallel with and spaced axially from the first end 17.Threaded male end 114 is mounted on and extends upwardly from themounting plate 118. The socket 115 is mounted inside the housing 13 in adownwardly opening fashion so that light from a bulb 119 threaded intothe socket 115 is directed downwards.

Referring now to FIG. 18, there is shown a tent having an inclined top132 extending down from an apex and connected at the lower end to avertical side wall 131 and terminating above a floor 133 to provide aside opening 134 so that the tent is an open sided room. The air movingdevice 12 is mounted below the top apex and directs the air in the roomdownwardly in a columnar pattern to the floor and along the floor andthen back with some air passing in and out the side openings 134 alongthe floor 133. For wide tents, the air will pass up before it reachesthe side walls.

The air moving device and system herein described has relatively lowelectrical power requirement. A typical fan motor is 35 watts at 1600rpm for an impeller of 8.5″ that will effectively move the air from theceiling to the floor in a room having a ceiling height of 30 ft. Anotherexample is 75 watts with an impeller diameter 8.5″ at 2300 rpm in a roomhaving a ceiling height of 70 ft.

Referring now to FIG. 19, there is shown a shipping container 161 havingan air moving device 12 disposed horizontally in the lower left end. Thedevice 12 directs the air horizontally along the bottom wall or floor,up the opposite side wall and across the top wall to exit an outlet duct162 above and spaced from the device 12 of the air moving device. Thedevice 12 will penetrate the air and promote flushing and circulation ofthe air space. The device 12 may be mounted to direct the air generallyhorizontally or up or down at an angle to the true horizontal. Thisarrangement may be provided in other air spaces such as a trailer truck,room or the like.

It is understood that the stator 46 and housing 13 could be made as asingle unit. It is also understood that the housing 13 may be made intwo sections as for example a tubular section of a selected length maybe added to the end of a truncated devices as shown in FIG. 14.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degreeof particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade by way of example and that changes in details of structure may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof.

1. An air moving device comprising: a housing having an air inlet at afirst end and an air outlet at a second end spaced from said first endwith an air flow passage between said first and second ends, a rotaryfan mounted in said housing near said air inlet and having an impellerwith a plurality of blades that produce an air flow with rotary andaxial air flow components, and a plurality of spaced, axially extendingair guide vanes in said housing between said impeller and said airoutlet for converting said rotary component of said air flow intocombined laminar and axial air flow in said housing, said vanes beingspaced from said impeller with a gap of having a selected size, said gapsize being selected to be no greater than a selected maximum dimensionto avoid generation of turbulence and reduce static back pressure insaid air flow, whereby said air flow exits said air outlet in an axialstream extending beyond said air outlet in a columnar pattern withminimal lateral dispersion.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1wherein said gap is selected to be no less than a selected minimumdimension to avoid noise.
 3. The device as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid impeller has a diameter and said size of said gap is less than onehalf said diameter of said impeller.
 4. The device as set forth in claim1 wherein said air flow passage has a cross sectional area thatdecreases from said air inlet to said air outlet to increase air flowvelocity.
 5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said crosssectional area decreases by about 10% to 35%.
 6. The device as set forthin claim 1 wherein each of said blades incline at a selected angle to anaxis of rotation for said impeller, each said blade extending axiallyand radially outwardly toward said second end to produce said air flowin said housing, each said vane having a curved vane portion inclined atan angle opposite said incline of each blade that extends axially andradially inwardly toward said second end to assist in converting saidrotary component of said air flow into said laminar and axial air flow.7. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vanes are straight.8. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a stator in andseparable from said housing, and wherein said vanes include an upstreamportion in said stator and a downstream portion affixed to the inside ofsaid housing downstream of said stator, said downstream portionoperating in conjunction with said upstream portion to direct said airflow through said housing.
 9. The device as set forth in claim 1including a cowling having an outer end surface with a smooth radius atsaid first end that directs air flow at said air inlet to flow into saidhousing along a curve to minimize turbulence and noise.
 10. The deviceas set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has an inside surface thatis substantially smooth and uninterrupted to minimize turbulence andenergy loss, an inner housing hub in said housing having a downstreamhousing hub portion inward of and spaced from said vanes to reduceturbulence in said air flow along said vanes, said housing hub beingtorpedo shaped converging toward said second end to direct air flow toavoid turbulence.
 11. The device as set forth in claim 1 including ahanger pivotally connected to said housing to mount said housing in adepending manner from a support, said hanger enabling said housing tomove to selected angles, said hanger being lockable at said selectedangle to direct air flow at said selected angle.
 12. The device as setforth in claim 1 including means to fasten said housing to a can lightrecessed in a ceiling to suspend said housing from said can light, saidmeans to fasten including an electric connector having an externallythreaded male end connecting to a light bulb socket in the back of saidlight can, a mounting plate at said first end, a tube attached to thetop of the mounting plate, said means to fasten including a compressionspring in said tube, a shaft telescoping in said tube and axiallyslidable therein, and co-operating interfitting key and slot portions onthe tube and shaft to prevent relative rotation between said tube andshaft, said male end being carried on the end of said shaft oppositesaid spring, said spring urging said male end into said socket.
 13. Thedevice as set forth in claim 1 including a electric connector having anexternally threaded male end mounted to the top of the housing forconnecting to a light bulb socket, a grill on said housing forpermitting air to enter said inlet and an electric light bulb socketmounted inside said housing to illuminate the room in which the housingis mounted.
 14. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a grill andsupport assembly mounted to a ceiling and said housing and said assemblyhaving a spherical convexly curved exterior first bearing surfaceextending radially inwardly having a spherical concavely curved exteriorsecond bearing surface mating with and frictionally engaging said firstbearing surface to support said housing from said ceiling and enablesaid housing to be vertical and to tilt at selected angles to thevertical and be frictionally held at a selected position.
 15. The deviceas set forth in claim 14 including a concavely curved grill havingspaced grill fins and air openings extending between an outer ringfastened to said ceiling and an inner ring connected to said grill finsfor providing said first bearing surface to enable air to flow upwardlythrough said grill along said housing into said inlet.
 16. The device asset forth in claim 15 including a can having a bottom flange and an openbottom extending around said housing connected to said ceiling toenclose the upper portion of said housing and at least one fin in achannel in an upper portion of said can to prevent swirling of the airbefore entering said inlet.
 17. The device as set forth in claim 15including a clamping member having a main body portion and a flangeportion at one end of said main body portion, said flange portion beingdisposed in an opening in said can at said open bottom, a fastenerextending through a bottom flange in said can, said ceiling connectingto said main body portion to clamp said can to said ceiling.
 18. Thedevice as set forth in claim 17 wherein there is a plurality of saidclamping members at circumferentially spaced positions on said can. 19.The device as set forth in claim 1 including a water line in saidhousing with a nozzle at one end to form a mist in the air dischargingfrom said second end to reduce air temperature.
 20. The device as setforth in claim 1 wherein the number of said blades is different from thenumber of said vanes to minimize noise.
 21. The device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein there are three said blades and four said vanes.
 22. Anair moving device comprising: a housing having an a first section, asecond section downstream of said first section with a smaller diameterthan said first section, and an inner shelf extending radially inwardlyfrom said first section to said second section, a stator nested in saidfirst section and resting on said shelf, a rotary fan mounted in saidhousing near said air inlet upstream of said housing hub having animpeller with an impeller hub having an outer surface and a plurality ofblades extending radially out from said impeller hub, said inner andouter surfaces defining an air flow passage through said housing betweensaid first and second ends, said blades produce an air flow through saidair flow passage with a rotary and axial air flow component, and nestingin said housing upstream of said stator and having an impeller with aplurality of blades that produce an air flow with a rotary and axial airflow components, and a cowling mounted on said housing upstream of saidfan and extending radially inwardly into said housing along a curve tominimize turbulence, and a plurality of spaced, axially extending airguide vanes in said housing between said impeller and said air outletfor converting said rotary component of said air flow into combinedlaminar and axial air flow in said housing, said vanes including anupstream portion in said stator and a downstream portion affixed to theinside of said housing, said vanes being spaced from said impeller witha gap of having a selected size, said gap size being selected to be nogreater than a selected maximum dimension to avoid generation ofturbulence and reduce static back pressure in said air flow, wherebysaid air flow exits said air outlet in an axial stream extending beyondsaid air outlet in a columnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion.23. An air moving system comprising: an air moving upper device havingan air inlet at a first end and an air outlet at a second end oppositesaid first end, said device producing an air flow that exits said airoutlet in an axial stream extending substantially beyond said air outletin a columnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion, an air movinglower device having an air inlet at a first end and an air outlet at asecond end opposite said first end, said device producing an air flowthat exits said air outlet in an axial stream extending substantiallybeyond said air outlet in a columnar pattern with minimal lateraldispersion, and a tube coupled between said air outlet of said upperdevice and said inlet of said lower device to convey air flow from saidupper device to said lower device, said lower device being connected tosaid upper device via said tube.
 24. The system as set forth in claim 23wherein said tube is flexible and fire resistant.
 25. The system as setforth in claim 23 wherein said upper device has a higher flow rate thansaid lower device.
 26. The system as set forth in claim 23 wherein saidupper device has a flow rate of about 800 cfm and said lower device hasa flow rate of about 550 cfm.
 27. A method of moving air comprising thesteps of: producing an air flow through an elongated housing from an airinlet at a first end to an air outlet at a second end, spaced from saidfirst end, and directing said air flow through said housing in a laminarand axial flow and out said air outlet so as to produce an axial streamextending beyond said air outlet in a columnar pattern with minimallateral dispersion.
 28. The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein saidair flow is directed horizontally and at selected angles to thehorizontal to penetrate an air space and cause air flow circulation insaid air space.
 29. The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein said airflow is directed vertically and at selected angles to the vertical topenetrate the air space, cause destratification of the air space and airflow circulation.
 30. A method of reducing heating requirements for aroom having side walls, a ceiling and a floor, comprising the steps of:providing a ductless air moving device that produces an air flow with anaxial stream extending beyond said device in a columnar pattern withminimal lateral dispersion, mounting said device at said ceiling, anddirecting warm air from near said ceiling to said floor with saiddevice, whereby heat from said warm air is transferred into said floorand stored in said floor, and moves along the inside of said side wallsand back up to said ceiling and back to said device to be re-circulatedin said room.
 31. The method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said heatstored in said floor is released when said ceiling is cooler than saidfloor to heat the inside of said room.
 32. A method as set forth inclaim 30 wherein said room is a tent having a top and downwardlydiverging side walls with openings between the sides walls and a floorand said device is below said top.